Christian Walker has until 2PM AZT to respond to the D-backs $21.05m offer.
Diamondbacks News
Arizona Diamondbacks Open Stunning New Academy in Dominican Republic by Jack Sommers [SI]
First and foremost, the academy features the Ken Kendrick Education Center. The team launched their education program in 2014, with the first graduating class that year. Now there are several new classrooms and facilities for the athletes to receive free education, providing them the opportunity to have a successful life on and off the field
{Ed. Note: I’m all for the Diamondbacks increasing their presence in the DR with this state of the art facility, but I am most excited for this educational element of the facility highlighted in Jack’s article. I had no idea we had something like this going on, but I’m very proud that we are developing more than just baseball skills for these young men. Bravo, Mr. Kendrick!}
Diamondbacks move farm director Shaun Larkin to 3B coach by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]
Possible 40-man roster candidates for the Diamondbacks by Michael McDermott [Michael’s Substack]
Which Diamondbacks Players Are Available in Rule 5 Draft? by Jake Oliver [SI]
‘If anybody can do it, he can’: Robinson’s road back to baseball by Jonathan Mayo [DBacks.com]
Around the League
Skenes, Gil win Rookie of the Year in a pairing not seen since 1981 by Manny Randhawa & Paul Casella [MLB]
14 Players on Hall of Fame Ballot for first time by Brian Murphy [MLB]
Astros’ stadium to be renamed Daikin Park through 2039 [ESPN]
The new deal is with Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd., which is based in Japan and is a leading air conditioning company.
Rays’ 2028 Stadium Deal in Jeopardy by Steve Adams [MLB Trade Rumors]
“Last month, the County Commission upended our ballpark agreement by not approving their bonds, as they promised to do,” [Rays owner Stu] Sternberg told the Times. “That action sent a clear message that we had lost the county as a partner. The future of baseball in Tampa Bay became less certain after that vote.”
Sternberg pledged to “exhaust all [options]” to keep the Rays in the area but eventually conceded that relocation is “not an unlikely conclusion.”
Wall Over but the Shoutin’: Camden Yards Gets New Dimensions by Michael Baumann [FanGraphs]